Magic General Manager Otis Smith told the Orlando Sentinel that Howard’s camp has not indicated to the Magic that the superstar center has expanded his list of preferred trade destinations beyond his original three teams: the New Jersey Nets, the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks.

Sure, Howard and Derrick Rose have a little mutual admiration society going. Doesn’t matter. If Howard would not agree to sign a long-term deal with the Bulls they are not about to trade away all the assets needed to acquire the best center in the game. (They might not anyway, the Bulls are contenders now and if they give up too much they could take a step back even with Howard on the roster.)

There is a Howard trade rumor void because the Magic are not looking to move him right now, they are trying to convince him to stay. Which seemed a lot easier a couple of weeks ago when the Magic were playing well. But Orlando has lost four in a row and is playing without energy or execution. Normally this is where a team leader like Howard steps up and holds teammates accountable, but is anyone going to listen to a guy with one foot out the door?

Howard can opt out of his contract at the end of the season and become an unrestricted free agent.

The Bulls should not give away the store for Dwight Howard even if he is the best Center in the NBA.
A Center is not what they are lacking anyway.
They need a dominating PF and a SG that is a healthy 24 year old version of the one they have now (Rip Hamilton)

I do not understand why Howard wants to go to the Nets.
Moving to Brooklyn is not going to make them a better team, they have little to offer to Orlando in a trade and he is not going to get a ring there.
You are going to get the money no matter where you play so what is the attraction?
.

– First he says he’s all about winning a ring
– He lists the Nets as a team he wants to go to, even though Deron and him will be a nice combo, it’s not where near a championship worthy team.
– Than he says he like the Lakers, but complains that he wants a big market for all the attention and glory, even though in LA he’ll be number two.
– Plus with LA, he’ll almost be an exact reincarnation of Shaq and Dwight has stated several times he does NOT want that.
– In the beginning, he didn’t want Chicago because of supposed cold weather. He lists the Net w/ them moving to Brooklyn as a team and New York is not Florida.
– Than he says he doesn’t mind Chicago, Boston, Golden State but doesn’t change his list of teams.
– Than he lists Orlando as a team he’d sign with again but has not shown interest in Orlando AT ALL this season besides speaking about the players on the team.

If he wants to win a ring and doesn’t want to be like Shaq plus a big market and get paid with a good point guard, Chicago is obviously the best option.

Wrong. If that was the attraction, the Bulls would be his number 1 choice. The attraction is to live in New York and hang out with Jay Z. If this were really about winning, his list would look a lot different.

Howard to the Bulls makes them the absolute favorite to win the titles this year, next year, and so on until the other teams adjust. Tom Thibodeau’s Bulls squad is already the best defensive team in the league. Howard only enforces their already strong defense, with or without the pieces they give up. If they have to give up Deng as the centerpiece, with Gibson/Asik and Noah, I say do it. Worse trades have been done. (I’m looking at you, Knicks). This way, the roster isn’t completely depleted. Give up Noah, who Howard will replace anyway. Hedo will replace Deng’s spot in the lineup (tough choice, but it’s worth it to get Howard.)

Rose, Rip, Hedo, Boozer/Gibson, and Howard would dominate the league. It’s the smartest place to go. One of the best young PG’s, a great coach, a great market (since that seems to be the motivating factor), and a better team overall, even post trade. There are very few shortcomings to doing the deal. The only hindrance should be the asking price, and here, the bulls hold all the cards. If the asking price is too high, walk away, and still be one of the best teams in the league, without Dwight.

The Bulls as currently constructed could win a championship. Why mess with that? Look at a fringe team to enter the fray. One who has no chance to win it all, I.E. the Sixers. Orlando does not and should not care where he says he wants to play. That is the problem whoever trades for him. Orlando owes the fans not d12.

Agreed. I’m looking for the Sixers to get in play, Atlanta, Indiana, etc. I’m shocked that they’re even entertaining the prospect of trading him where he wants to go, and not where they get the best deal. The Nuggets got the best deal in the Melo trade last year, but only after NJ drove the price up to ridiculous heights and then pulled out, leaving the Knicks looking stupid and overpaying.

It’s nice to talk about getting the best package, but the fact of the matter is, if Howard won’t agree to sign an extension before he’s traded, no team will pull the trigger. This isn’t a Derron Williams or Chris Paul situation where you’ve got a season and a half to convince him to stay. If he’s traded where he doesn’t want to be, that team gets him for 4 months and he walks.

kvanhorn87 - Feb 1, 2012 at 10:26 AM

FTR I would not want Bynum if I were the Magic. Too much injury risk and his ego will be too big when he is the man somewhere. They will find themselves in the same position in 2 years from now with him.

He shld end up in LA. I wld take Bynum over Brook Lopez. Good player, but doesn’t dominate inside. Bynum’s ceiling is extremely high. Orlando has to trade him. They can’t risk him leaving and gettin nada in return.

Lopez up to this year never missed a game. Bynum gets hurt every year and has major baggage. I’ll take Lopez because he will be healthier and less of a head case. Neither one will win anything as the focal point.

I believe that Asik will be an unrestricted free agent after this season and some team will offer him starters money.
Not star money but full time player money.
Houston wanted him in the worst way last year when the Bulls were looking for a SG.
Besides Roe, the Bulls biggest strength is that they are deeper than any team in the NBA and they have bought into the team concept and playing tough D.
Remove too many pieces and it all falls apart.

I have to wonder if Howard could play for Tom Thibodeau.
Thibodeau is no nonsense, demands a lot from his players at all times and he will sit anyone that is not getting it done.
Can Howard deal with that on a day-to-day basis?
He would have to grow up and be more focused than he is right now.
Stop with the stupid technical fouls and learn to shoot a free throw.
Howard is a great player but he can be even better if he would drop the 20-year-old attitude.

If you think with a new ownership who is surprisingly competitive won’t take the chance of clearing some cap space and taking risk of Howard walking, you are wrong. The truth is when it is time for him to sign somewhere, there will not be teams lined up with available cap space. And if they do, they aren’t a winning team yet. So then his option is to stay where he is and max money (the team who takes the risk is probably a good team) or go for less money to a less competitive team. This isn’t rocket science. If you can provide a list of all these teams with open cap space in next free agent season, please share.

This guys BEST chance to win is to sign an extension and tell his buddy Derron Williams to ride out and go to Orlando Period.If he is serious about wanting to win.Howard,Anderson,Hedo,J-Rich,Williams with big baby,earl clark,JJ,Nelson off bench Peace Out